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Senate Democrats say they will strip out $80M in new funding in a wartime spending bill to begin the process of closing the Guantanamo detention facility.
Reuters

In a clear setback for President Barack Obama, Senate Democrats moved Tuesday to both wipe out $80 million in new funding for the closing the Guantanamo detention facility and bar the administration from moving prisoners to U.S. soil until there is a more detailed plan provided to lawmakers.

“We’ll wipe out all the money,” Inouye said, “And I’ll put in a provision that says none of the funds in this bill or any other bill can be used to pay for the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo to the United States.”

Inouye held out the option that Obama could still seek funding as part of the regular Defense and Justice Department appropriations bills for the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. But at this stage, securing the money now—without an approved plan—was a “non-starter,” he said.

Following House debate last week on the same bill, Obama is left with no money and less flexibility than when he first made his funding request this spring.

The wholesale retreat heightens the importance of a Thursday speech by Obama when he is expected to address the Guantanamo issue. At a time when new polls actually show the president riding high on national security issues, Guantanamo has proved especially nettlesome.

This was well illustrated by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s seemingly contradictory comments following a Democratic caucus luncheon Tuesday. Reid said that closing Guantanamo was the right decision but “We will never allow terrorists to be released in the United States.” Asked next, if he could see a day when Guantanamo detainees might be transferred to prisons on American soil, Reid refused to clarify his remarks. “We don’t want them around,” he said.

In recent days, Obama has sent mixed signals himself as he sorts through the complexities of how to bring to trial the remaining prisoners. Republicans have used this confusion to play on the localized fears and emotions of voters about prisoners being transferred to prisons in their states.

“Obama hasn’t done us any favors on this,” said one Democratic leadership aide. “He’s a little of this, a little of that. The Republicans have one compelling message.”

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Senate Republicans settled Monday on their first line of attack in the battle over closing the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay: No detainees can come to American soil.

With the blessing of his party leaders, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) is expected to offer the language as an amendment to a $91.3 billion wartime spending bill that could come before the Senate as early as Tuesday.

Democrats, under pressure from voters at home, are already wavering, as seen in the House and in statements by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) over the weekend. ...

“Obama hasn’t done us any favors on this,” said one Democratic leadership aide. “He’s a little of this, a little of that. The Republicans have one compelling message.”

The administration’s allies concede as much but argue that the attacks are in essence a partisan “fear mongering” campaign, given that closing Guantanamo was endorsed by Obama’s presidential rival, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, in last year’s election.

Oh man this is getting confusing! Democratic senators and Republican senators are getting cold feet about the Gitmo closing supported by Democratic President Obama and defeated Republican Presidential candidate McCain. Obviously it must be partisan posturing.

The Left Wing Nut Democrats have now made bitter enemies out of the CIA, the FBI, other 3 letter agencies and the military because the Democrats are desperately trying to do everything they can to undermine America's defenders and help the enemy and its been this way a long time. These front line fighters in the War on Terror are not going to forget which party it is that is constantly trying to undermine them. And neither will the rest of us.

The Democrats are starting to circulate al Qaeda talking points trying to claim that the CIA and military had "child rape programs" and other Democrat Left Wing Nut lies designed to help the enemy.

As usual and predictably, the Democrats have over-reached in a remarkably short time.

The Democrats are reduced to the argument of "Oops, Pelosi got caught lying so now we'll try to claim both sides are telling the truth".

Lame try - Pelosi must either produce the evidence of HER claim that the CIA lied to Congress or resign from Congress. One is telling the truth, one is lying - which is it?

America cannot afford to have this woman off her rocker in this position. Words like "Dementia" are starting to surface regarding Pelosi which is also just another excuse.

America is starting to get sick of the Democrats and all their excuses, whining and al Qaeda talking points.

The Left Wing Nut Democrats have now made bitter enemies out of the CIA, the FBI, other 3 letter agencies and the military because the Democrats are desperately trying to do everything they can to undermine America's defenders and help the enemy and its been this way a long time. These front line fighters in the War on Terror are not going to forget which party it is that is constantly trying to undermine them. And neither will the rest of us.